UNCW can Ponder what could be

Freshman's big night could spark confidence for fragile backcourt

Published: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 3:27 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 3:27 p.m.

Craig Ponder quit trying to be a perfect player in the UNCW backcourt after coach Buzz Peterson shifted his position and role. The Seahawks hope what Ponder showed Saturday night at Marshall provided a peek into his potential, wasn't just a home state cameo left on the banks of the Ohio River.

Facts

UNCW men (3-4) vs. Coker (2-3)

When: 8 p.m.Where: Trask Coliseum (5,100)Tickets: uncwsports.com, 1-800-808-UNCW, at box officeRadio: 104.5 FMHawk Talk: Defense is the reason UNCW has a chance to return to .500 entering end-of semester exams. The Seahawks are fourth in the CAA in field goal percentage defense (43.1 pct.) and third in 3-point percentage defense (31.5 pct.). They're also beginning to take better care of the ball. After averaging 20.8 turnovers in the first four games, they committed 16.0 per game in the last three. Also, the NCAA granted guard Tyree Graham a medical hardship sixth year of eligibility, keeping him in the program through 2013-14.

Ponder poured in 26 points in the Seahawks' 61-58 loss. By hitting 3-pointers early, driving lanes opened for the redshirt freshman. He caught the Thundering Herd off guard, remained aggressive and capitalized. In his 11th college game, he doubled the previous best output from a UNCW guard this season.

Prior to the outburst, Ponder said he started to feel more comfortable on the floor, even if an 0-for-8 shooting effort in two UNCW victories the previous weekend didn't validate his confidence boost. Yet, he's scored before, like the 56 points he dropped in a state playoff game as a senior at Bluefield (W.Va.) High.

Going home helped.

"I'm just playing with less pressure on myself, going out there and having confidence in myself and just playing my game," Ponder said after going 11-for-16 vs. Marshall.

When Ponder opened the season in a six-game slump, Peterson encouraged him, believing he was a better player than the one he watched shoot 5-for-23 and commit 20 turnovers in 125 minutes.

There was slight improvement, but nothing foreshadowed Saturday night's performance.

"He's a young man that's very conscious of everything that's said about him, what people think about him," Peterson said. "I said, ‘Hey you've just got to go out there and play. Don't worry about what people think or what they say about you. Everybody respects you out here Craig – they respect you on the floor and off the floor.'"

Desperate for scoring punch and better ballhandling from his backcourt, Peterson shifted Ponder from point guard to shooting guard after the Seahawks' second game, a 38-point loss at Ohio.

He has nine assists and nine turnovers since. While Peterson prefers a 2-to-1 ratio, the move served multiple purposes: Junior Tanner Milson stabilized the ballhandling. Ponder became free to express his game, which is using his muscular frame to drive to the basket.

"I saw something in practice where he was scoring the basketball off screens and decided to give him a look there," Peterson said. "He's made some plays there. The more guys we have who can handle the basketball, the better."

Part of Ponder's rustiness can be blamed on what was essentially a 20-month layoff. After finishing a prep season at Hargrave Military in February 2011, Ponder started three of the first four games for UNCW in 2011-12. Then, an ankle injury ended his season. He had reconstructive surgery in January.

At Hargrave, his teammates included UNC shooting guard P.J. Hairston and Maryland small forward Dez Wells. He backed up Marquis Rankin, now at Virginia Tech, and was a solid sixth man.

Playing alongside such talented players proved to Ponder he could contribute at this level. Now, UNCW needs him to sustain the game he rediscovered in the hills.

<p>Craig Ponder quit trying to be a perfect player in the <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic71"><b>UNCW</b></a> backcourt after coach <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9942"><b>Buzz Peterson</b></a> shifted his position and role. The Seahawks hope what Ponder showed Saturday night at Marshall provided a peek into his potential, wasn't just a home state cameo left on the banks of the Ohio River.</p><p>Ponder poured in 26 points in the Seahawks' 61-58 loss. By hitting 3-pointers early, driving lanes opened for the redshirt freshman. He caught the Thundering Herd off guard, remained aggressive and capitalized. In his 11th college game, he doubled the previous best output from a UNCW guard this season.</p><p>Prior to the outburst, Ponder said he started to feel more comfortable on the floor, even if an 0-for-8 shooting effort in two UNCW victories the previous weekend didn't validate his confidence boost. Yet, he's scored before, like the 56 points he dropped in a state playoff game as a senior at Bluefield (W.Va.) High.</p><p>Going home helped.</p><p>"I'm just playing with less pressure on myself, going out there and having confidence in myself and just playing my game," Ponder said after going 11-for-16 vs. Marshall.</p><p>When Ponder opened the season in a six-game slump, Peterson encouraged him, believing he was a better player than the one he watched shoot 5-for-23 and commit 20 turnovers in 125 minutes.</p><p>There was slight improvement, but nothing foreshadowed Saturday night's performance.</p><p>"He's a young man that's very conscious of everything that's said about him, what people think about him," Peterson said. "I said, 'Hey you've just got to go out there and play. Don't worry about what people think or what they say about you. Everybody respects you out here Craig – they respect you on the floor and off the floor.'"</p><p>Desperate for scoring punch and better ballhandling from his backcourt, Peterson shifted Ponder from point guard to shooting guard after the Seahawks' second game, a 38-point loss at Ohio. </p><p>He has nine assists and nine turnovers since. While Peterson prefers a 2-to-1 ratio, the move served multiple purposes: Junior Tanner Milson stabilized the ballhandling. Ponder became free to express his game, which is using his muscular frame to drive to the basket.</p><p>"I saw something in practice where he was scoring the basketball off screens and decided to give him a look there," Peterson said. "He's made some plays there. The more guys we have who can handle the basketball, the better."</p><p>Part of Ponder's rustiness can be blamed on what was essentially a 20-month layoff. After finishing a prep season at Hargrave Military in February 2011, Ponder started three of the first four games for UNCW in 2011-12. Then, an ankle injury ended his season. He had reconstructive surgery in January.</p><p>At Hargrave, his teammates included UNC shooting guard P.J. Hairston and Maryland small forward Dez Wells. He backed up Marquis Rankin, now at Virginia Tech, and was a solid sixth man.</p><p>Playing alongside such talented players proved to Ponder he could contribute at this level. Now, UNCW needs him to sustain the game he rediscovered in the hills.</p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic94"><b>Brian Mull</b></a>: 343-2034</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @BGMull</p>